Donald Trump Warned Over Invading Mexico

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office, experts are urging caution over his proposed approach to tackling drug cartels in Mexico. Newsweek has contacted the Trump transition team via email for comment. Why It Matters Trump has previously said, “It’s now time for America to wage war on the cartels.” A U.S. military operation in Mexico to combat cartel activity would be highly controversial. Former President Donald Trump at a border security briefing in Texas in 2021. As Trump prepares to retake office, experts are urging caution over his proposed approach to tackling drug cartels in Mexico. Former President Donald Trump at a border security briefing in Texas in 2021. As Trump prepares to retake office, experts are urging caution over his proposed approach to tackling drug cartels in Mexico. Joel Martinez/The Monitor via AP, Pool What To Know While Trump has expressed a desire to take aggressive action against these criminal organizations, analysts are warning that military intervention could lead to severe consequences. Carolyn Gallaher, a professor studying guerrilla and paramilitary violence at American University’s School of International Service, told Rolling Stone: “All you do is create a succession crisis.” “And a succession crisis in a drug cartel looks different than a succession crisis in, like, [Rupert] Murdoch’s empire, right? It’s basically settled with violence.” Trump’s strategy centers on reinstating his previous border policies and ensuring full military backing to combat cartel trafficking, which includes implementing a naval blockade. He proposes utilizing Special Forces and cyber warfare to disrupt cartel operations. Trump also advocates for classifying cartels as terrorist organizations to cut off their international financial resources. Additionally, he intends to push Congress to impose the death penalty on drug traffickers. Trump has pledged to crack down on Mexican drug cartels and crime syndicates, and previously said he would “make appropriate use of Special Forces, cyber warfare, and other overt and covert actions to inflict maximum damage on cartel leadership, infrastructure and operations.” His aggressive approach aligns with South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham’s push to classify Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations, which would grant the president authority to act militarily against them. After Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a long-time leader of Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, was arrested in July, competing factions have been engaging in violent clashes across the state of Sinaloa. A cartel war erupted between the faction of Los Chapitos, the sons of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, and supporters of Zambada. The president has appointed several hardline officials to carry out his immigration agenda. Former Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director Tom Homan was chosen as border czar, while adviser Stephen Miller was appointed as deputy chief of staff for policy and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem was nominated for the top job as the Department of Homeland Security secretary. Homan previously warned Mexican cartels in July that Trump would wipe them “off the face of the earth” during a speech at the Republican National Committee. He also issued a stark warning that the Trump administration would designate Mexican cartels as “terrorist organizations” for their role in getting fentanyl across the southern border. What People Are Saying Gallaher told Rolling Stone, “You have to go back and think of a new strategy.” “And going and killing capos is not only not a new strategy, but it is the most failed part of the strategy on both sides of the border.” Trump said notorious crime syndicates and drug kingpins will “never sleep soundly” again once he launches his plans to tackle the issue. “The drug cartels are waging war on America—and it’s now time for America to wage war on the cartels,” Trump said in a statement in 2023. “The drug cartels and their allies in the Biden administration have the blood of countless millions on their hands. Millions and millions of families and people are being destroyed. When I am back in the White House, the drug kingpins and vicious traffickers will never sleep soundly again.” “We will show no mercy on the cartels,” Trump said in a video statement released after he defeated Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris. Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham told Newsweek: “Once President-Elect Trump takes office on January 20, 2025, I look forward to working closely with him and his team to repair the damage done by the Biden-Harris administration’s disastrous open-border policies. Too many of our sons and daughters have fallen victim to heinous acts at the hands of illegal criminals.” Representative Chip Roy (TX-21) said on KTSA radio in November: “Even the military ought to be used as necessary to take out the cartels, and if we need to pass the authorization of the use of military force to go take out the cartels, then so be it. I am tired of these individuals targeting Americans.” What Happens Next Trump is set to return to office on January 20 and has repeatedly pledged to crack down on the cartels and crime syndicates. Immigration and border security helped fuel Trump’s election victory to reclaim the White House. Republicans could face minimal resistance to their aggressive agenda after regaining control of the presidency and Senate, to go along with the House.